2021 International Research Conference

A collage of the following three images: two students in goggles in a lab, a student painting on a large canvas, and two students in white lab coats looking on a computer. The words "International Research Conference, For Graduate Students April 2021" are inlaid on the collage.

The Graduate College at Texas State University hosted the 2021 International Research Conference for Graduate Students on April 6–8, 2021. To continue following university health and safety measures, the conference was held virtually through ForagerOne’s Symposium platform.

More than 75 graduate students from various disciplines at Texas State and from other institutions, including John Hopkins University and the University of Texas at Dallas, presented original research findings through electronic poster, or e-poster, presentations. 

The conference opened on Tuesday, April 6 with the virtual Kickoff Event, where Dr. Andrea Golato, Dean of The Graduate College, provided opening remarks, and Dr. M. Alejandra Sorto, recipient of the 2020–2021 Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award and professor in the Department of Mathematics, presented the keynote address, "The Dynamic Role of Graduate Students in Advancing New Knowledge and Innovation," which focused on this year's Common Experience theme, Dynamics. 

The virtual conference was then open for all Texas State students, faculty, and staff and external institutions participating in the conference to view. There were three main parts to each research presentation: electronic poster (e-poster), video introduction to the e-poster, and written abstract.  

On Thursday, April 8, the following presentations were awarded: 

Doctoral Degree Category 

  • Top Presentation:
    Zaid Almusaied and Dr. Bahram Asiabanpour 
    A Novel Design of Hybrid Hydrophilic-Superhydrophobic Surfaces for Fog Harvesting
    Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization
  • Honorable Mention:
    Kimberly Wong, Leslie Garza, and Meagan Robbins
    “Everything is Theory Versus Practice”: Department Policy Changes in the Time of Black Lives Matter
    Criminal Justice

Master’s Degree Category 

  • Top Presentation:
    Lindsay Loftin
    Property Rights or Human Rights: Content Analysis of Media Depictions of the Unhoused
    Sustainability Studies
  • Honorable Mention:
    Lawrence Bassett, Ferris Zughaiyir, Dr. Michael Forstner
    Distribution of the Mediterranean Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) in Texas
    Biology

The Graduate College thanks all of the faculty and staff members who served as judges, faculty respondents, and supported the graduate students in their research. A special thank to the Common Experience for co-sponsoring this year’s conference.